Thursday, April 15, 2010

I would rather attempt and fail a thousand times at something in which I had put my heart, than to win with a single bound at something that held only some temporary thrill.

Somehow big, bold things grip my heart and being!

It was a big, bold thing to think out a way to cut a water road across the Isthmus of Panama. But it was done—by big, old men.

A few years ago, those who thought the time would come when we would be safely sailing through the air and sending messages round the world merely by way of space, were termed dreamers and fools. They had big, bold visions—the kind that always come true!

The big, bold things in the world's progress are planned by big, bold men.

Big, bold things! They are the only inspirers. In them may we delve and sweat and thrive. For though we may temporarily fail—we can never loose.—George Matthew Adams.

I like to write about and praise people who now live, while yet they are pouring out benefits for the betterment of the world. I like people to know that I appreciate them and their art of work.

Recently I went to hear Ruth Draper, whom I consider one of the greatest artists it has been my privilege to hear. They call her an Impersonator. But that is not what she is at all. She is an Interpreter—and even more than that.

She is the granddaughter, I believe, of Charles A. Dana, the great founder of the New York Sun. And surely the genius of that wonderful understander of human character has descended to this woman, for she actually flows into and becomes one with the characters she depicts.

She gives you a New England character in one of her sketches. You see the very porch where the farmer's wife sits. You seem to hear the creak of the old chair, the hen's cackle and the dog barking as the woman clatters on. Ruth Draper disappears and the characters, as they actually are, walk and talk before you.

Real tears come and roll down yours cheeks before you know it when she leads you into an old Western railway station to see them ring in the wounded from a wrecked train. And as you catch the humor and pathos of one character after another, you now that this artist has brought you a clearer understanding of human nature and of life—that she has brought a lot of sweetness into your life that had been all too dead before.

Ruth Draper etches characters on the stage as Whistler did on copper. And with as infinite skill. And one of the frist things you note about her is that she is so simple, so modest, so very honest. She has no tricks.

Though is has been weeks since I heard this extraordinary artist, her characters are following me everywhere. They rise before me as I go to work, and often I find them coming into my room at night, after te lights are out, and into my library when the lights are on. You see, they were very real—and somehow I like real folks.

I have heard no woman artist to compare with Ruth Draper since Bernhardt. And I am wondering whether the Divine Sarah, at miss Draper's age, could have been so great.

The reason is plain—we depend upon the outward thrills of life to build the fires of inspiration within us.

The hero becomes a hero because he has put something into the world that we would like to have put there. He has had courage and vision. And he has used his determination to weld these two into a completed task.

I recently stood on the side lines and watched the illustrous hero, Marshal Foch, pass by. Great crowds went wild with enthusiasm. And the simple man acknowledged the plaudits in the most dignified and democratic manner. For it must be remembered that Foch has always been a man of action and of a few words.

There was a time when it looked as though no human leader could win the fight that centered about this man. But it was won. Foch saw the thing through. And America and the world has been honored by having the opportunity to pay homage to him.

But I have in mind a story. It came to me as I saw the thousands surge to get a glimpse of the car that held this standing soldier.

When the world was was at its height the newspapers published the account of a correspondent who went to interview Foch. He was directed to a little French village.

Millions of homes had been rent and tears flowed as freely as the blood of those who gave all that they had. Civilization, over, seemed to be cracking under the strain. The stoutest heart was wondering why it was that God didn't come around and put the contest and its slaughter to an end.

But God was already around. And now people are beginning to understand what their faith was unable to fathom—the reporter met Foch just as he was coming out of an obscure church where he had gone to pray!

FORMATION is always better than reformation. The mended article is never as valuable as the original article. The field neglected and given over to weeds is never so fertile again. In like manner, the cells of a man's Brain, given over to foolish and unprofitable Thought are never so plastic for useful Thought tracks again.

Everything is Easier and Better if always done right—in the first place.

The process of Undoing works havoc, not only upon the Character of the one who Works or Thinks wrongly in the first place, but in many instances upon countless multitudes, while the time spent in Undoing represents an irreparable loss. Every time you start a new duty or piece of work, bring to the front of your Mind this eternal Truth—

Everything is Easier and Better if always done right—in the first place.

If we all could but view our acts in the light of Eternity—not forgetting that a single effort is never lost from Influence, we would set on a guard our most trustworthy Sentinel to warn us against doing things Wrongly in the first place—which always means Undoing for us or somebody afterward. Why not write this down as one of your daily Mottoes—

Everything is Easier and Better if always done right—in the first place.

Probably the greatest Law of Success is Organization. Nothing so marvelously emphasizes the infinite Mind of the Creator of this World, as His wondrous Solar System. Organization means Results—real Triumphs. Before any Man of Business is able to get Results, there must be Organization.

The greater your Organization is, the greater will your Success be.

Every healthy human being is fitted out in the first place with every Factor and Faculty for a powerful Organization. There is your Brain with scores of Elements ready to act in the Organization. There is every member and organ of your Body ready—Waiting and Willing. To win—get all these things into a sound, workable Organization. For—

The greater your Organization is, the greater will your Success be.

If you feel yourself in the position of many a Failure—take heart. Organize yourself! Write down upon a piece of paper every useful Quality you believe yourself gifted with. Plan out how your different Abilities may help each other. Then write down the names of every possible avenue of Endeavor where your Abilities seem most adapted. Give every one of them Something TO DO. Set them to Work. Realize what Organization can do. Realize that—

The greatest influences in life are the silent ones—those that keep creeping upon and into us.

It is the touch through the silence that opens our eyes and unlocks our best selves to the world.

It was Lincoln who gave new meaning to this thought when he said at Gettysburg that it wouldn't be long before all that was said on that battlefield about its heroes would be forgotten, but that what they did, who fought there, could never be forgotten.

The touch through the silence always ennobles!

Permeating the silent years of all the time that is to be, will the lifegiving of the boys who sleep because of war keep rising from the earth to render warmth and comfort to those who bore them, and undying inspiration to those who are yet to learn of what they gave.

The touth of true art is that which puts gold on the lining of one's heart whether it be the art of word, of pen, or brush, or chisel.

As time goes on, only the good in us lives. But it is the touch throgu the silence that keeps radiating, that makes everything we do have an eternal cast.

For a Smile that just balances its toes, or that olds by its hands, or that has to "hang to" with both hands and feet— well, that simply isn't a regular Smile!

So, when you Smile, keep it on straight.

The Smile that is most liable and sure to stay on straight is the kind that reaches ear to ear. We call that "oar Smile!" Besides, that kind has double advantage—it has an ear at both ends to hang to—thus adding to its permanence and power.

Keep your Smile on straight.

I never see a lop-sided Smile but what I feel like running, I would almost rather see no Smile at all. But the honest, happy, deep, wide, sparkling Smiles—they are not made with hands, but are sort of eternal inspired from blue heavens, lined with Stars.

And such Smiles always stay on straight.

Even though the heart, away deep down, may be bearing a load of loneliness or—something still the true blue Smile kept steady in its place, is able to lead a whole town or state or country—or world!

The happiest people in the world are those who KNOW more than they HAVE.

The most fascinating job in existence is to hunt for new things. And no matter where you go, no matter what you look at, there is hidden knowledge—waiting for you to WANT it.

I love to wander into a bookstore or a library and pick out a book from just anywhere and begin to read in it. Many times I have found paths to wonderful discoveries that helped to arouse latent desires on my part from knowledge along lines about which I had never before dreamed.

I like to speculate upon things, too. I see a great tree and at once I think that some time that tree may be a half dozen of chairs in some comfortable home, or a desk or so in some great office, or maybe copies of a great newspaper, or some writing paper on which to write to a friend—just think what a train of thoughts a mere tree may start!

As we grow in years, we change in viewpoint. This gives to life a very happy angle. Because we may go back to the books and scenes of our former years and see new beauties and new wonder.

The first thing to bear in mind when you borrow trouble is that you have to pay back what you borrow.

And who wants to be paid back in trouble?

Every day I live I decide in my own mind that this is a good world. I may be wrong in my decision—but in such a case I shall willingly bear the responsibility.

At least, this is no world in which to borrow trouble. There is plenty without borrowing, anyway.

There was a song which originated during the World War that I wish might continue to live. It was about wrapping up your troubles in some sort of a bag and just—smiling! If you will try this out and then open up your bag, I will be one to venture the opinion that there will be no troubles there at all—they will have leaked out!

Bear responsibility, face the music and play the game——but give your working machine a chance to function without borrowing trouble.

Borrowing trouble is much like borrowing money—the more you do borrow, until you are enmeshed in troubles, every one of which looks lke some Gibraltar in size.

david Harum is made to say in Wescott's book of his name, that the reason why a dog has fleas is to keep him from brooding too much on being a dog.

Maybe that is like our having troubles—for we each have plenty of our own-so that we may not brood too much on being better than someone else, and may remember that we are, first and last, human.

But so long as we have troubles, let us not let it be known that we have them! And then they won't be borrowed-or lent.

It was Ella Wheeler Wilcox who once wrote that the earth had to borrow its mirth—but that it had trouble enough of its own!—

I like the man or woman "crammed" with animal spirits. The one who isn't afraid to "make emotions," to laugh out loud, to run, to jump, to climb, to make a lot of noise.

I think that Douglass Fairbanks is one of the most useful men in the world. He has enough animal spirits to furnish a managery. But he is too valuable to be caged up so he gives his time to making people laugh by the million. If anybody gets to heaven, he will.

Did you ever know an old man or woman with animal spirits? I swear there is none such. For animal spirits are not subject to age. Nor age to them.

Most people swallow their animal spirits and die "at a good old age." If you are wise you will get rid of them. And help make this old, war wrecked world the better for your having been around.

Do anything, Climb a tree, run around a block, laugh out loud in church, walk up a twenty stroy building. Better still, work "like sixty" (but be happy in it).

In Beauty are we all agreed. Wherever its mystic Force centers, wherever its magic Fascination hovers, there do all pay willing Homage. For, Beauty is Peace. It is Contentment self-scenting.

Find Beauty and you will find Happiness.

And always, in its last and most satisfying analysis, Beauty is Truth. No harm or Sting ever hid in real Beauty. Once found, it can offer none else than what it itself is—Sweetness and Inspiration. Every day, really, overflows—With Beauty.

Find Beauty and you will find Happiness.

There is Beauty everywhere, if you will but SEE it! The gnarled Tree has Beauty in it. Also, the most despised of men and women have Beauty in them—somewhere—if you will but LOOK for it. The most menial sort of work has grains of Beauty to it, and you wil SEE it there, just the moment you LOOK for it. Simply—

Find Beauty and you will find Happiness.

Happiness in every form is a manifestation of Beauty. The jars of your life come about by your failing to See Beauty as you plod along. The dissatisfaction that comes to you in your work is a hint to you of how you are crowding out the Beauty that's there. Get the Beauty Hunting habit! Very little else counts!

There is a deal of valuable life philosophy in the famous phrase of the Street Car Conductor—"Step Lively, Please!" He knows. He is "on the Job." Schedules must be met. The crowds must be kept moving. The minutes must be counted. And so it's—

Step Lively.

The life of each of us is but the snap of a finger after all. There coulb be no better motto for anyone than to Step Lively. Step Lively. Do your work so well today that the one who follows you tomorrow may be able to pick it up where you left off and because of your good works as creditably to pass it on to the one who follows him. Step Lively, though. Life lasts but a little while.

Step Lively.

When an Idea crops out from your Brain, Step Lively, put it to some use, or else tomorrow of a minutes later some other Brain will have hatched the same idea, mayhap. If a noble, unselfish impulse stirs you, Step Lively, enact it. Is your Eye set upon things higher up? Do you see the figures outside your Pay Envelope expanding? Step Lively. Step Lively. The whole world is fond of those who Step Lively, who do not "fall asleep at the switch" and who do not block the Crowds, but who more on, and ever—

Search

Mr. George Matthew Adams

George Matthew Adams was a newspaper columnist, author, writer, philosopher and publisher who founded the Adams Newspaper Service in 1907. He is the author of several books and "You Can" is the most famous of his works.

Mr. Adams became a well-know columnist with his "Today's Talk" which was a kind of short essay he would write for sundry newspapers and had an inspirational appeal for the average American citizen of the time. His syndicate supplied features to many newspapers worldwide for more than fifty years.

Furthermore, it is known that Mr. Adams owned a collection of rare etchings and more than 5000 books, many of them first editions.

Mr. Adams on etchings:

"Etchings early appealed to me because of their intimate character. Some of them seem to have been etched from the heart."

Mr Adams on books:

"I walk all over many of the books I read. Anyone who comes across them after I am through with them will see my tracks. That is, my pencil tracks, which, in reality are the tracks of my mind at it travels through a book."

"I am certain that anything with the word book attached to it will ever be interesting and fascinating to me."

Dr. Frank Crane

"Most of the fear that spoils our life comes from attacking difficulties before we get to them."

Robert Lynd, Essayist

“One of the greatest joys known to man is to take a flight into ignorance in search of knowledge.”

James Allen

"A man is literally what he thinks."

William Feather, Author

"Few of us get anything without working for it."

Walt Mason wrote the introduction of "Up."

GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS

QUOTES BY GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS:

* He who does not get fun and enjoyment out of every day ... needs to reorganize his life.

* If you have nothing else to do, look about you and see if there isn't something close at hand that you can improve! It may make you wealthy, though it is more likely that it will make you happy.

* Note how good you feel after you have encouraged someone else. No other argument is necessary to suggest that never miss the opportunity to give encouragement.

* No matter what our ambition, that ambition must be fed, daily, without a break. Desires vanish quickly, unless they are fed.

* The hero becomes a hero because he put something into the world that we would like to have put there.

* We cannot waste time. We can only waste ourselves.

* Each day can be one of triumph if you keep up your interests.

* Just be yourself and you will not only be unique in a large way, but you will be an honest expression of a human being.

* Books express much of the personality of the author, so that we often feel we know him, in a rather intimate fashion.

* Devotion to the simple things of life, and to beauty, is what ennobles character and puts a glow to the very countenance. You can always tell from the smile of a person whether there is happiness imbedded in the heart.

* I WISH there were not so many unhappy people in the world. Cheerfulness is power and something that feeds the soul.

* Every human being should be free to choose his own way of life, and select his own sphere of influence, just as long as he does not encroach upon the same individual rights of his fellow man.

* It's what each of us shows, and how, that gives to us character and prestige. Seeds of kindness, goodwill, and human understanding, planted in fertile soil, spring up into deathless friendships, big deeds of worth, and a memory that will not soon fade.

* If love is the greatest thing in the world, then hate is the greatest evil, for hate is the opposite of love. Love attracts, hate repels. Love is life, hate is death. Hate is the worst waste that can enter a human soul.

* If newspapers printed nothing but news, the readers would be sour and depressed.

* It is fine to forgive and forget so far as in your power lies, but to be highly tuned to the receipt of beautiful words from a warm and understanding heart is to own one of the finest gifts God gives to human beings.

* He who understands does not resent. Resentment is the play of little minds.

* It is better to aim for Perfection and miss it, than to aim at Imperfection and hit it.

* Opportunity is kinder to folks than folks are to it. Is it in the cycle of events that a man should not be used too hard, but that chance after chance should be given him to prove his worth—only to allow him to fail after his mettle has proved too unworthy.

* Every one of us, unconsciously, works out a personal philosophy of life, by which we are guided, inspired, and corrected, as time goes on. It is this philosophy by which we measure out our days, and by which we advertise to all about us the man, or woman, that we are. . . . It takes but a brief time to scent the life philosophy of anyone. It is defined in the conversation, in the look of the eye, and in the general mien of the person. It has no hiding place. It's like the perfume of the flower — unseen, but known almost instantly. It is the possession of the successful, and the happy. And it can be greatly embellished by the absorption of ideas and experiences of the useful of this earth.

* Each day of your life, as soon as you open your eyes in the morning, you can square away for a happy and successful day. It's the mood and the purpose at the inception of each day that are the important facts in charting your course for the day. We can always square away for a fresh start, no matter what the past has been. It's today that is the paramount problem always. Yesterday is but history.